Method and apparatus for grading material



D. D. DUNKIN METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR GRADING MATERIAL Jan. 22, 1929.

Filed Sept. 2'7, 1927 Damon D Dun/(m Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

STATES DAMON D. DUNKIN, 0F GUION, ARKANSAS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GRADING MATERIAL.

Application filed September 27, 1927. Serial No. 222,262.

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus forgrading materials and is designed primarily for the grading ofrelatively line material, such for example as sand, although it is notnecessarily restricted to such use.

An important object of the invention 1s to provide such a method andapparatus wherein the sand or other material to be graded may be quicklyand efficiently separated into a plurality of different grades, eachgrade containing grains of a relatively prede termined size.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus wherein the sand or other material to be graded is preferablydeposited upon a traveling surface moving in an inclined plane, theincllnation of said surface being such that those grains of a relativelypredetermined ,size are adapted to slide or roll freely thereover in thedirection of their natural tendency and be discharged therefrom, whilethe remaining aggregation of finer mixed grains are caused to adhere tosaid surface and be positively carried along therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus of this nature wherein is provided a traveling conveyor movingin a plurality of different planes, the conveyor being adapted toreceive and carry the material to be graded in such a manner that thatportion of the conveyor moving in each plane will effect the separationof a different, relatively predetermined grade therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus of this nature wherein is provided a preferably endlessconveyor belt arranged to travel successively in a plurality ofdifferent planes, the belt being adapted to receive thereon and carrythe material to be gradedthrough said several planes in such a mannerthat that portion of the belt moving in each plane will effect theseparation of a relatively finer grade of material than that portion ofthe ltlclt moving in the preceeding plane.

further object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus of this nature wherein the sand or other material to be gradedis deposited upon a continuously moving conveyor belt including aplurality of material bearing surfaces having different angles ofinclination and traveling difiierent directions, each material bearingsurface being adapted to effect the separation of a relativelypredetermlned grade of material, the apparatus including means foradjusting the angles of inclination of said material bearing surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus of this nature wherein is provided a conveyor belt including aplurality of inclined runs having different angles of inclination andtraveling in difierent directions, the sand or other material to begraded being deposited upon one of said runs in a manner that thosegrains of a relatively predetermined size will roll or slide downwardlythereover and be discharged therefrom, forming a finished grade orproduct, While the remaining aggregation of finer mixed grains will becaused to adhere to and be carried along with said belt into thesucceeding run wherein the process of separation is repeated to effect aseparation of those grains of a relatively fine predetermined size,forming a second finished grade or product.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus of this nature wherein are provided a plurality of materialbearing surfaces traveling in different planes, each adapted to receivea mixed product to be graded, said surfaces being so arranged that thosegrains of material of a relatively predetermined size will be permittedto slide or roll freely thereover, While the remaining material will bepositively carried thereby.

Other objects and advantages of the in vcnti-on will become moreapparent during the course of the following description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings forming a part'of this applicationand wherein likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section through grading apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is-a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a preferablyendless conveyor belt arranged in substantially triangular formation andbeing trained about a plurality of rollers, said belt having a pluralityof material bearing Sl'llffifiGS or runs moving successively in anupwardly inclined plane, in a downwardly inclined plane and havingdifferent angles of inclination, which are variable. The sand or othermaterial to be graded is ordinarily deposited initially upon thatsurface or run of the conveyor which is moving up the incline andpreferably adjacent the upper end thereof. The angle of inclination. ofsaid surface or run is such that the coarser grains of a relativelypredetermined size will freely slide or roll downwardly thereover in thedirection of their natural tendency and be discharged from the lower endthereof, forming a fin ished grade or product, while the remainingaggregation of liner mixed grains are adapted to stick or adhere to thebelt and be carried upwardly along therewith and into the downwardlymoving run which is arranged at a different angle of inclination thanthe upwardly moving run. ll hen the material traveling with or adheringto the belt passes into the downwardly moving run and thus meets adifferent angle of inclination, there is another separation, thosegrains of a relatively liner predetermined. being adapted to roll orslide downwardly over the belt and be discharged therefrom the lower endthereof, forming a second finished grade or product, while the stillfiner mixed grains are caused to adhere to the belt and be carried alongI therewith. The material, still adhering to the belt after the secondseparation, is carried into the substantially horizontal run wherein thesame will either fall off of the belt or can be removed therefrom bymeans of suitable brushes or the like, this material forming a thirdgrade or prod uct.

Referring now more in detail to the ac conipanying drawings, the numeral5 designates in its entirety a suitable supporting framework comprisingspaced. horizontal base members 6 to which are secured, adjacent theiropposite ends, the inclined mem bers 7 and 8, said members convergingupwardly and being pivot-ally connected as at 9 with the members 8preferably extending beyond the members 7 to provide extensions 10. Themembers 8 are pivotally connectec to the base members 6 as at 11 whilethe low or ends of the members 7 are adjustably secured to the basemembers by the fastening means 12. The base members 6 may be providedwith a plurality or series of horizontally arranged openings 13 withinwhich the fastening means 12 may be selectively engaged in order thatthe angles of inclination of the inclined members 7 and 8 may be variedas desired, it being noted that the members 6, 7 and 8 are arranged insubstantially triangular formation.

The supporting framework 5 carries a a plurality and. preferably threetransversely arranged rollers 14:, 15 and 16, the rollers 1 1 and 15being in substantial horizontal alignment with one another and carriedby the inclined members 7 and 8 respectively, while theroller 15 isarranged at the apex of the framework and is carried by the extensions10. The rollers 14, 15 and 16 are mounted respectively upon shafts 17 18and 19, the opposite ends of each shaft being journaled in bearings 20carried by and slidable upon the base portions; 21 of the members 22secured to the corresponding portions of the framework, the bearings 20being adjustable along the base portions 21 by means of adjusting screws23 so that upon proper rotation of these screws, the rollers may bemoved in. the desired direction to either tighten or loosen the conveyorbelt 244-.

This belt is of the preferably endless type and is trained about therollers 14-, 15 and 16, so that it is arranged in substantiallytriangular formation, said belt including a plurality of materialbearing surfaces or runs 25, 26 and 27, the run 25 moving upwardly in aninclined plane, the run 26 downwart ly in an inclined plane and the run27 across in substantially horizontal plane. The angles of inclinationof the runs 25 and 26 areadapted to be different and these angles may bevaried, as found necessary to desirable, by proper adjustment of themembers 7 in the manner above described. Any suitable width of belt maybe used depending on the capacity and material to be graded and the saidbelt may be made of cotton ducking, silk, wool, or in fact of any othersuitable fabric made of natural or synthetic material. The belt may alsobe made of either canvas or rubber.

The endless belt Qlis preferably positively driven in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 with the inclined material bearingsurfaces or runs being sup ported in their travel upon a plura ity ofsupporting idler rolls 27. In order to drive the belt, there may besecured to each of the roller shafts 17, 18 and 19, a si iroclze-t wheel28 about which is trained a sprocket chain 29 held tightened by means ofan idler roller 30. Power to drive the belt may be transmitted initiallyto one of the st ts from any suitable prime mover through theintermediary of a drive pulley or the like 31 shown as being secured tothe roller shaft 18 although it may be secured to either the shaft 17 or19 if preferredw Arranged at the lower ends of the inclined runs of thebelt are the receiving receptacles and 353 while a receptacle 3a is alsopositioned beneath the substantially horizontal run 27.

The sand or other material to be graded is contained within a feed be 35suitably supported above the upwardly moving inclined run 25 of the beltadjacent the upper end thereof, said feed box having a slot or opening86 in its bottom through. which the loo material is adapted to gravitateor fall onto the belt. The opening orslot 36 preferably extendssubstantially the entire width of the conveyor belt so that the materialmay be uniformly fed thereto and is preferably controlled by means of ahorizontal sliding plate 37 having an opening or slot 38 therein adaptedto register with the opening or slot 36 in the bottom of the feed boxwhen it is desired to permit the material to therefrom onto the belt.When it is desired to shut elf the supply of material, the plate 37 maybe adjusted horizontally upon rotation of the adjusting screw 39 so asto move the slot therein out of registry with the slot 86. Thus, theamount of material falling onto the conveyor belt may be of fectivelycontrolled and regulated. Of course, any other desired means may beprovided for depositing the material upon the belt with or without fallso that the present invention is not to be restricted to the particularconstruction shown.

In operation, the sand or other material to be graded is adapted to befed from the feed box 35 onto the upwardly moving inclined run 25 of thebelt adjacent the upper end thereof, the angle of inclination of saidrun being such that the coarser grains of material of a relativelypredetermined size will follow the path of their natural tendency and bepermitted to freely slide or roll downwardly over the belt and bedischarged at the lower end thereof into the receptacle 33, forming onefinished grade or product. The rolling or sliding movement of thecoarser grains will serve to agitat/ or cause a separation therefrom ofthe relatively finer mixed grains which will settle to the bottom and asthey come into contact with the belt will adhere thereto and be carriedupwardly along therewith, over the roller 15, and then downwardlythrough the inclined run 26. The angle of inclination of the run 26 isdifferent from that of the run 25 so that the material meeting adifferent inclination will cause another separation to take place, thosegrains of a relatively finer predetermined size being caused to slide orroll downwardly over the belt and be discharged at the lower end thereofinto the receptacle 32, forming a second finished grade or product.while the still liner grains will adhere to the belt and be carriedtherewith under the roller la into the substantially horizontal run 917.The grains of material which aro'carried with the belt into thehorizontal run will either drop therefrom. into the receptacle 3% or canbe removed by means of a suitable brush or scraper 40, if necessary.Thus, each succeeding run of the conveyor is adapted to effect theseparation of a relatively finer grade of material than the precedingrun so it may be used as a grader of material of different specificgravity in which the different gravities are in different sizes ofparticles. For instance, in the separation of ore of small size and onegravity from gangue of larger size and different gravity. Further, itmay be utilized for effecting the separation of chaff and obnoxiousseeds from grain, such as cockle-bur seed from wheat.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Claims 1. In apparatus for grading materials, a conveyor arranged totravel in a plurality of differently inclined planes, the material to begraded being deposited upon and carried by said conveyor in a mannerthat that portion of the conveyor moving in each plane will effect theseparation of a dif ferent relatively predetermined grade therefrom.

2. In apparatus for grading materials, a conveyor arranged. to travel ina plurality of differently inclined planes, the material to be gradedbeing deposited upon and carried by said conveyor in a manner that thatportion of the conveyor moving in each plane will receive a mixedproduct, the coarser grains of a different relatively predetermined sizebeing adapted to slide or roll freely thereover, while the remainingliner material will be positively carried thereby whereby that portionof the conveyor moving in each plane will effect the separation of adifferent grade of material.

3. In apparatus for grading materials, a conveyor belt arranged totravel successively in a plurality of dili'erent planes, the material tobe graded. being deposited upon and carriedby said belt in a manner thatthat portion of the belt moving in each plane will effect the separationof a different rela tively predetermined grade therefrom, whileconveying the remaining material into the next succeeding plane.

4. ln apparatus for grading materials, a conveyor belt arranged totravel successively in a plurality of different planes, the material tobe graded being deposited upon and carried by said belt in a manner thatthat portion of the belt moving in each plane will receive a mixedproduct composed of relatively finer naterial than that product receivedby the preceding portion, the coarser grains of a relativelypredetermined size upon each portion being adapted to slide or rollfreely thereover and be discharged therefrom, while the remaining finermaterial will be caused to adhere thereto and be carried along therewithwhereby each succeeding portion. of the conveyor belt will effect theseparation of a different grade of material.

5. In apparatus for grading materials, a conveyor belt arranged totravel successively in a plurality of planes, the madifferent terial tobe graded being deposited upon and carried by said belt in a manner thatthat portion of the belt moving in ca ch plane will effect theseparation of a relatively finer predetermined grade of material thanthe proceeding portion of the belt which travels in a different plane.

6. ln apparatus for grading materials, a moving conveyor belt having aplurality of material bearing surfaces traveling in different planes,each surface being adapted to receive a mixed product to be gra led,said surfaces being so arranged that those grains of material of arelatively predetermined size will be caused to slide or roll freelythereover, while the remaining material will be positively carriedthereby whereby each succeeding material bearing surface will effect theseparation of a relatively finer grade of material than the precedingsurface 7. In apparatus for grading materials, a moving conveyor beltincluding a plurality of material bearing runs having different anglesof inclination, and means for depositing the material. to be graded uponsaid belt in a manner that each material bearing run is adapted toeffect the separation of a different relatively predetermined gradetherefrom.

8. In apparatus for grading materials, a traveling conveyor beltincludin a plurality of material bearing runs having different angles ofinclination, said belt being adapted to receive and carry the materialto be graded in a manner that each material hearing run is adapted toeffect the separation of a relatively predetermined grade of ma terialtherefrom, each material bearing run serving to effect the separation ofa relatively liner grade of material than the preceding run.

9. lln apparatus for grading materials,a traveling conveyor beltincluding a plurality of material bearing runs having different anglesof inclination, each of said runs being adapted to receive a mixedproduct to be graded, the angles of inclination thereof being such thatthe coarser grains of a relatively predetermined size will roll or slidefreely thereover and be discharged therefrom, while the remaining finermaterial will be caused to adhere thereto and be carried along therewithwhereby each ma terial bearing run will effect the separation of adiiferent grade of material.

10. In apparatus for grading materials, a traveling conveyor beltincluding a plurality of material bearing runs having different anglesof inclination, each run being adapted to receive thereon a mixedproduct to be graded, the angles of inclination 0 said runs being suchthat the coarser grains of a. relatively predetermined. size roll orslide downwardly thereover and be discharged. therefrom, forming afinished grade or product, while the remaining aggregation of finermixed grains will be caused to adhere thereto and be carried alongtherewith, whereby each succeeding material bearing run will effect theseparation of a relatively finer grade of material than the precedingrun, and means for adjusting the angles of inclination of said runs.

11. In apparatus for grading materials, traveling conveyor beltincluding a plurality of material bearing runs having different anglesof inclination, and means. for depositing the material to be graded uponone of said runs adjacent the upper end thereof, the angle ofinclination of said run being such that the coarser grains of arelatively predetermined size will slide or roll freely thereo'ver andbe discharged therefrom, forming a finished grade or product, while theremaining aggregation of finer mixed grains will be caused to adherethereto and be carried along therewith into a second run, the angle ofinclination of said second run being such that the grains of arelatively finer predetermined size will slide or roll downwardlythereover and be discharged therefrom, forming a second finished gradeor product, while the still finer grains will adhere to said run and becarried along therewith to form a. third grade or product.

12. in apparatus for grading materials, a traveling conveyor belt havinga pair of material bearing runs arranged at different angles ofinclination, one run traveling upwardly in an inclined plane and theother downwardly in an inclined plane, means for depositing the materialto be graded. upon the upwardly moving run adjacent the upper endthereof, the angle of inclination of said run being such that thecoarser grains of, material of a relatively predetermined size willslide or roll downwardly thereover and be discharged at the lower endthereof, forming one finished grade or product, the remainin aggregationof finer mixed grains being caused to adhere to the run and be carriedupwardly along therewith and over into the downwardly moving run, theangle of inclination of this run being different from that of the firstrun and such that those grains of a relatively liner predetern'iinedsize will slide or roll downwardly thereover and be discharged at thelower end thereof, forming a second finished grade or product, while theremaining finer material will adhere to said second run and be carriedalong therewith to form a third grade or product.

13. In apparatus for grading materials, an endless traveling conveyorbelt having a plurality of material bearing runs arranged insubstantially triangular formation and moving upwardly in an inclinedplane, dowmvardly in an inclined plane and then across in asubstantially horizontal plane, and means for depositing the material tobe graded upon the upwardly moving run adjacent the upper end thereof,the angle of inclination of said run being such that the coarser grainsof a relatively predetermined size will roll or slide downward 1ythereover and be discharged from the lower end thereof, forming afinished grade or product, the remaining aggregation of finer mixedgrains being caused to adhere to said run and be carried along therewithinto the downwardly moving run, this run having a different angle ofinclination than the upwardly moving run so that those grains of arelatively finer predetermined size will slide or roll downwardlythereover and be discharged from the lower end there of, forming asecond finished grade or product, while the remaining finer materialwill adhere to said run and be carried into the substantially horizontalrun, forming a third grade or product.

14:. The method of grading materials, which consists in providing atraveling surface moving in differently inclined planes, depositing thematerial to be graded upon that portion of the surface moving in oneplane in a manner that the coarser grains of material of a relativelypredetermined size will move freely thereover and be dischargedtherefrom, while the remaining finer mixed grains will be positivelycarried thereby into a differently inclined plane where those grains ofa relatively finer'predetermined size will move freely over the surfaceand be discharged therefrom, while the still finer material will bepositively carried thereby.

15. The method of grading materials, which consists in depositing thematerial to be graded upon a traveling surface moving in an inclinedplane, adjusting the angle of inclination of said surface so that thecoarser grains of material-of a relatively predetermined size will slideor roll freely thereover and be discharged therefrom, forming one gradeof product, while the remaining liner mixed material. will'be caused toadhere thereto, passing the mixed material adl'iering to the surfaceinto a differently inclined plane, the angle of inclination of thesurface in the secondv plane being such that those grains of arelatively liner predetermined size will slide or roll freely thereoverand be discharged therefrom, forming a second grade or product, whilethe remaining still liner material will adhere thereto and be carriedtherewith forming a third grade or product.

16. The method of grading materials, which consists in providing atraveling surface moving upwardly in an inclined plane and thendownwardly in a differently inclined plane, depositing the material tobe graded upon that portion of the surface moving up the incline in amanner that the coarser grains of material of a relatively predeterminedsize will move freely thereover and be discharged therefrom, forming onegrade or product, while the remaining finer mixed grains of materialwillbe positively carried thereby into the downwardly moving plane wherethose grains of a rela tively finer predetermined size will move freelyover the surface and be discharged therefrom, forming a second grade orprod not, while the still finer material will be positively carriedtherewith forming a third grade or product.

17. The method of grading materials, which consists in depositing thematerial to be graded upon an upwardly moving inclined surface,adjusting the angle of inclination of said surface so that the coarsergrains of material of a relatively predetermined size will roll or slidedownwardly thereover and be discharged therefrom, forming one grade orproduct while the re maining finer mixed material will be caused toadhere thereto, passing the material adhering to the surface into adownwardly moving inclined plane, the angle of inclination of thesurface in the second plane being such that those grains of a relativelyfiner prdetermined size will roll or slide downwardly thereover and bedischarged therefrom, forming a second grade or product, while theremaining still liner material will adhere thereto and be carriedtherewith forming a third grade or product.

18. The method of grading materials, which consists in depositing thematerial to be graded upon a traveling surface having a plurality ofmaterial bearing portions movingin diflerent planes, each portion beingadapted to receive a mixed product and to separate therefrom the grainsof a relatively predetermined size whereby each portion of the surfacewill effect the separation of a different grade of material.

19. The method of grading materials, which consists in depositing thematerial to be graded upon a traveling surface having a plurality ofmaterial bearing portions moving in differently inclined planes, and inadjusting the angles of inclinations of the portions in a manner thateach of said portions will effect the separation of a relatively finerpredetermined grade of material than the preceding portion.

20. The method of grading materials, which consists in depositing thematerial to be graded upon a traveling surface having a plurality ofmaterial bearing portions moving in differently inclined planes, eachportion adapted to receive a mixed prodnot, and in adjusting the anglesof.inclination of said portions in a manner that the grains of arelatively predetermined size will slide or roll thereover and bedischarged therefrom while the remaining finer material will be causedto adhere thereto and be carried therewith whereby each material bearingportion will effect the separation of a different rade of material.

21.111 apparatus for grading sand and like materials, including asupporting framework of substantially triangular formation comprisingspaced horizontal base members and a pair of upwardly converging'sidemembers carried by each base member and pivotally connected adjacenttheir upper ends, one of the inclined members of each pair beingpivotally connected at its lower end to the respective base member andthe lower end of the other inclined member of the pair being adjustablyassociated with said base member whereby thesame may be movedhorizontally with respect thereto to vary the angles of inclination ofsaid side members, a pair of rollers carried by the opposed side membersadjacent the base of the framework and arranged in substantiallyhorizontal alignment with one another, a third roller arranged atsubstantially the apex of the framework and positioned between the firstnamed rollers, an endless belt trained about the three rollers andadapted to move upwardly in aninclined plane, downwardly in a differentinclined plane and across in a substantially horizontal plane, and meansfor depositing the material to be graded upon the head of that portionof the belt moving upwardly.

22. In apparatus for grading sand materials, including a supportingframework of substantially triangular formation comprising spacedhorizontal base members and a pair of upwardly converging side memberscarried by each base member and pivotally connected. adjacent theirupper ends, one of the inclined members of each pair being pivotallyconnected at its lower end to the respective base member and the lowerend of the other inclined member of the pair being adjustably associatedwith said base member whereby the same may be moved horizontally withrespect thereto to vary the angles of inclination of said side members,a pair of rollers carried by the opposed side members adjacent the baseof the framework and arranged in substantially horizontal alignmentwithone another, a third roller arranged at substantially the apex of theframework and positioned between the first named rollers, an endlessbelt trained about the three rollers, sprockets associated with saidrollers, a sprocket chain trained about said sprockets for driving thesame together with said rollers whereby to cause the belt to moveupwardly in an inclined plane, downwardly in a different inclined planeand across in a substantially horizontal plane,

and like means for depositing the material to be graded upon the head ofthat portion of the belt moving upwardly, a receptacle arranged at thefoot of each inclined portion of the belt, and a receptacle arrangedbeneath the substantially horizontal portion of said belt.

Signed at Guion, in the county of Lizard and State of Arkansas, this 23dday of September, 1927.

DAMON D. BUNKER CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

Patent No. 1,699,522. Granted January 22, 1929, to

DAMON D. DUNKIN.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the abeve numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 112, claim 2, strike out the word "different"; page 4, line 85,claim 10, after the word "size" insert the word "will"; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

